Time is probably the most precious asset any business owner , employee or entrepreneur possesses. And once it’s gone…you can’t get it back.

Think of all the things you need time for. Time to solve problems. Time to invent, create, think and plan. Time to gather and make sense of information. Time to develop sales, marketing, management and profit breakthroughs. Time to network.

Perhaps most importantly…time for YOURSELF and your loved ones.

And yet, all too often you probably find that you don’t have enough time to tackle what’s really important to you. Probably not a day passes when you think to yourself “If only I had another hour or so…”

There are strategies to make that time…perhaps more accurately, get back your time. That’s how business giants like Richard Branson, Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch can get so much done.

Here are 3 action steps to get more control and get back some of that precious time.

Action Step 1: Take Control Of Your Email

Continually checking and responding to email is a HUGE distraction and time waster. So here’s what to do…

1. Decide on 2 times a day when you will log in to your email and deal with your messages. Set the times depending on what’s appropriate for your business. For example, if it’s important to respond promptly to emails received overnight, then you might check email first thing and then at the end of the day.

2. At all other times….turn email OFF.

Action Step 2: First Things First

Stephen Covey (“The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People”) talks about classifying tasks in terms of importance and urgency. Draw a four box table (Urgent-Important; Urgent-Not Important; Important-Not Urgent; Not Important-Not Urgent) and allocate your “To-do” list into one of the four boxes.

That gives you a visual of your priorities for the day. Ideally, you then tackle only the important items and delegate the rest.

Action Step 3: Go With Your Energy Flow

It’s established science that your energy levels vary over the course of the day. We all have times of the day when we are more alert and able to work more effectively.

So, tackle those more important and more demanding tasks when you’re at your peak. You’ll find you get them done faster and better.

Use these action steps consistently and you’ll soon be getting more done in less time, with less stress.

To your success

Judeth

Founder & Lead Trainer at Upfront Communications